So much for resolutions...

We all have things we resolved to never do, or let happen again. The best laid plans...somewhere after high school I resolved to never let a boy make me listen to music I hate, especially Led Zeppelin, and never to sit by the phone , staring at it, willing it to ring. Or worse, making myself crazy trying to determine if calling 'him' would make me seen desperate.
Then I had a son. First came years of listening to his music on the car radio or blasting through the house, most of it good, some of it, Led Zeppelin. Resolution 1 down the drain. And then, after moving him into his freshman dorm on Friday, I sat for the entire weekend staring at my cell phone, willing it to ring, or text , or email. There went resolution 2! Finally Ken texted him late Saturday afternoon and since then have had some texts and even 2 (quick) phone calls). Yea!
All is well.

Wash Dc, rappers and museums...

On the road with my favorite traveling companions! We needed to move Melissa out of her summer Washington digs so we decided to make a mini weekend out of it. Ken, Ross and I went down on Friday morning and headed over the the Museum of American history where Melissa met us after finishing her last day of work. Had lots of fun seeing Lincoln's hat, the ruby red slippers, James Brown's cape and of course Michelle's dress. Then over to her apartment where ,shockingly, she was completely packed up and ready to go. Of course, not shockingly, she had so much stuff it filled the car and the 3 of us walked back to the hotel. Had a great dinner, did the mandatory photo op in front of the White House and walked over to the W hotel where the rooftop bar is suppose to have an amazing view. After standing in line for 10 minutes we were told we couldn't go up because Ross didn't have ID to prove he was 21. Annoyed, the kids went off to the bathroom while Ken and I went outside. Bored after waiting for 2 seconds Ken wandered off to talk to the guy hanging out in front of one of those huge touring buses you see going down the highway and wonder if they belong to some rock band on tour. Guess what, they do, and they are very cool inside. Turns out this one belongs to Outkast and within 5 minutes the four of us were inside the bus drinking beers and hanging out with Angelo, Andre 3000's first cousin.(One of the most innovative and successful groups in hip-hop, OutKast comprising André "André 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Pattonhas sold more than 20 million records over the last 14 years, both members have also now branched out into film acting)

We spent an amazing hour hearing all about their life together in Atlanta both as kids and now, what life is like on the road, and why Outkast (minus Andre) was in Washington DC (a long funny story involving a lot of money and a strip club). Angelo had lots of great life advice for the kids, most of it completely unprintable here. After hanging out on the bus for over an hour and getting the most bizarre looks from the people who wandered off and on the bus ( I guess a suburban family of four is not what you expect to find on a rappers bus)Angelo made Big Boi stop before getting in the (large black) SUV to the 'gentlemens' club so that Ross could get his picture taken with him. It was all pretty thrilling.

The next day,joined by one of Melissa's friends from Penn, we went off to a tour of the Capital which wasn't bad and then spent the afternoon at the Newseum (the museum of News). It was without a doubt one of the best museums we have ever been to and worth a trip to Wash dc. Not cheap but the tickets are good for two days. We spent over 3 hours there and loved every minute. Another great dinner, but no rappers to hang out with so we went over to the Lincoln Monument which is so beautiful at night with it's view of the Washington monument and the reflecting pool.
Back home on Sunday...Ken and Ross in the car, piled high with Melissa's junk and her and I by train!

Inception & More

Saw Inception last night. First I need to tell you that this movie is revealing a previously unknown generation gap . My parents and 3 of their friends saw it opening weekend and Hated it. Seriously hated it, as in 'worst movie ever, wish we had walked out' hated it. My daughter reported that her boyfriends' grandparents, who live in new york and do not know my parents or their friends, also hated it. Their reaction, combined with some pretty weak reviews and ,in my opinion, very unappealing coming attractions, had me crossing it off my list.
Then my daughter and several of her friends went to see it, over a two day period. Their reaction; incredible, unbelievable,loved it,amazing.
What! Now I was totally confused. Sure people often disagree on a movie but this seemed like a pretty extreme difference of opinion.
So, obviously I felt the obligation to see it myself. I was, I think, well prepared by a friend's comments/advice. 'At first I tried to fill in all the pieces of information and back story that the movie didn't give me and that was making me not like it. Then I just relaxed and went along for the ride.'
My verdict,echoed by husband, Loved it!
The movie seems to start in the middle, as if you had walked in 15 minutes late and missed some crucial piece of information. But, as the movie points out that's how dreams are; you never remember how you get somewhere in a dream you are just there in the middle of a situation. So I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, really, really, enjoyed the ride.
So why the extreme difference of opinion split along generational lines? Not completely sure. Perhaps my parents generation requires a more lineal plot line? A movie with a more strict beginning , middle and an end? I know my parents get frustrated when the computer, or TV, or DVD doesn't work and they don't know why. While,to me, as long as we can get it to work, the reason it suddenly went haywire is not all that important. Perhaps long term exposure to constantly evolving and complicated technology makes us better able to enjoy something without needing to fully comprehend it. After all I can enjoy my laptop and phone even if I don't use, or know how to use, a good chunk of it's functions. Or perhaps I'm totally wrong! Feel free to chime in.
On a side note, I'm trying to figure out how to plant the ideas of veneers as a life necessity into Ken's patients brains, so if you can do that be sure and call!

the age of men

I always thought that it was women who had the most trouble with aging. Fear of losing our looks and the power that goes with that...but lately I've been thinking that it's men that seem to have more extreme issues.
Somewhere around late 40s/early 50s men seem to hit this wall where they look at their life and often realize that they are not where they thought they would be in terms of money, success, power, possessions. Even if they are by most standards quite successful it often doesn't match up to the fantasy life they projected in their 20s. The result; depression, moodiness, anger, stupid spending and sometimes drastic life changes.
Women, while having their own aging issues (see my last blog!) don't seem to hit the wall in quite this same way. Maybe it's because we take a much more 'big picture' view of our lives? Sure we have all had that sensation , wow , thought I'd be doing this or having that by this point in my life but women see their lives as so much more multi-faceted than men. If one aspect, work, finances, is a little down we turn and look at an aspect, kids,friends, family, that's doing great.
I think this happens again later on. Women in their 60s and 70s, often free of work and kid responsibilities, seem to flourish and expand using their freedom to learn new skills, make new friends, and try new things. Men seen to shrink, often doing less and less in more and more time.
That's sad and with a little effort,or shock therapy, easily changeable.

New stage, old body

Such a strange time of life. Like most people my age I have always pictured myself as younger than I really was. Could never figure out how I was driving my daughter to college when I just graduated myself, that type of thing. Now suddenly I feel a 100 years older than I am. Our next door neighbors ( and close friends) moved away and in their place is a lovely couple with a 4 and a 6 year old. There they are playing catch on the driveway, drawing with chalk, and waiting for the camp bus. Isn't that suppose to be me? Now not only will I soon have two kids in college,in less than a year I'll have one graduating! Rented It's Complicated last night and burst into tears during the Columbia graduation scene. I'm pretty sure it was suppose to be a comedy.
And now my body seems to be betraying me. As most of you know I've always been thin. Suddenly I seem to have developed a stomach. And I do mean suddenly; went to bed skinny as always woke up unable to button my jeans! What the hell is going on here? Not a happy camper.

emplty nest: Take One

So recently heard a radio show on the crisis of 'over sharing'. Definitely not my issue as I struggle with sharing at all. Last month or two have been full of stuff that didn't make the blog due to my phobia of sharing at all! Obviously not a phobia hip enough to make even NPR.

My S has been away all week at senior week. Putting aside the terror that senior week brings out in any parent ; the possibility of partying oneself into a hospital bed or police car, I'm trying to see this week as an empty nest test. In Sept both the kids will be away at college leaving just the husband and I ,home alone. Perhaps my lack of panic about that fact is slightly disillusion but..
Both of them will be fairly close to home ( under an hour) and I expect them home for high holidays, thanksgiving, winter break so I don't think it will be too much separation anxiety. (On my part that is; I expect none on the part of my S off to his freshman year.)
By the time I recover from packing him off and cleaning up the debris he leaves in his wake I expect him ( and her) back again. Add in a few parent sponsored Sunday dinners and I think the trauma will be minimal.
As for this quiet, empty nest week at home? It's been ok. I've slept through the night , as opposed to laying awake until 3am listening for him at the door, cleaned out my closet,and went out for a glass ( or two ) of wine on a Wednesday eve. Still didn't clean out the basement, or the hall linen closet, so there's still plenty on the TO Do list. All in all not yet panicking about Sept. But don't worry , there's plenty of time!

Movies

I'll try and do a mini post under this heading every now and then to let you know what I've recently seen. So if you don't care; feel free to skip it!

Saw Iron Man 2 and was super disappointed as I loved the first one. Of course, watching Robert Downey is a joy but aside from him the movie was a real dud.

Loved Robin Hood; highly recommend it. It had just enough of everything to interest my H, my teenage son and me. Russel Crowe was great, of course. There was some fascinating English history to appeal to us history buffs, and then at the exact moment your attention was starting to drift, wham, an awesome fight scene-castles being stormed, arrows flying, damsels in distress, and lots of swords , mud and blood.
City Island. This is one of those films they don't make enough of. I hope the word of mouth spreads and this film goes from an art house favorite to a big hit so the studios will make more of these kinds of movies. No special effects, no fight scenes just real people, great dialogue, great story. Funny, sad and all around worthwhile. Iron Man 2 (CD/DVD)